NPR's Tom Dreisbach is back in the host chair for a day. This time, he reports on a story very... more

Roughly 196 million tons of fish were harvested in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United... more

When the dinosaurs walked the Earth, massive marine reptiles swam. Among them, a species of Ichthyosaur that measured over 80... more

500 million years ago, the world was a very different place. During this period of time, known as the Cambrian... more

We've all been there: You sit down for one episode of a reality TV show, and six hours later you're... more

Wednesday the Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards to limit people's exposure to some PFAS chemicals. For decades,... more

It's National Siblings Day! To mark the occasion, guest host Selena Simmons-Duffin is exploring a detail very personal to her:... more

It's baseball season! And when we here at Short Wave think of baseball, we naturally think of physics. To get... more

Tiny, black-capped chickadees have big memories. They stash food in hundreds to thousands of locations in the wild – and... more

On April 8, the moon will slip in front of the sun, blocking its light and creating an eerie twilight... more

For Guyana the potential wealth from oil development was irresistible — even as the country faces rising seas. Today on... more

Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But some of these species sit... more

According to the CDC, about one in four adults has a fear of needles. Many of those people say the... more

Few humans have had the opportunity to see Earth from space, much less live in space. We got to talk... more

Across the animal kingdom, menopause is something of an evolutionary blip. We humans are one of the few animals to... more

The number of newborns born with syphilis – a serious sexually transmitted infection – has skyrocketed 755% from 2012 to... more

When Shohini Ghose was studying physics as a kid, she heard certain names repeated over and over. "Einstein, Newton, Schrodinger... more

Nuclear fusion could one day change the world by producing energy at lower costs than we generate it now —... more

"Long COVID has affected every part of my life," said Virginia resident Rachel Beale said at a recent Senate hearing.... more

Coming down from the buzz of the Oscars, we're taking a look at Christopher Nolan's award-winning film 'Oppenheimer.' It chronicles... more

Neuroscientist Nathan Sawtell has spent a lot of time studying the electric elephantnose fish. These fish send and decipher weak... more

The Voyager 1 space probe is the farthest human-made object in space. It launched in 1977 with a golden record... more

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a first-of-its-kind cancer therapy to treat aggresive forms of skin cancer. It... more

The sci-fi film Dune: Part Two is out in theaters now. The movie takes place on the harsh desert planet,... more

According to the United Nations, about ten percent of the world is undernourished. It's a daunting statistic — unless your... more

An Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos can be considered "extrauterine children" under state law has major implications for... more

In the green tree canopies of forested areas in Myanmar, you might wake up to the sounds of gibbons singing... more

We are at the height of the Sun's activity in its eleven year cycle, known to astronomers as the solar... more

Lately, paleoecologist Audrey Rowe has been a bit preoccupied with a girl named Elma. That's because Elma is ... a... more

Every year, billions of animals across the globe embark on journeys. They fly, crawl, walk or slither – often across... more

In a Valentine's Day exclusive report, NPR has learned there is currently a gay anteater couple at Smithsonian's National Zoo... more

Happy Lunar New Year! According to the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the new year began Saturday. For many, like our host... more

At least, that's what a group of researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University thinks. The... more

If you've ever watched part of a professional football game, you've probably seen a tight spiral pass. Those perfect throws... more

In 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing radioactive material into northern Ukraine and Belarus. It was the most... more

Back in the day, many of us heard that the appendix is a vestigial organ — at best, a body... more

An all-out "naked mole rat war" has broken out at Smithsonian's National Zoo, after the queen of the colony was... more

Every year, lightning is estimated to cause up to 24,000 deaths globally. It starts forest fires, burns buildings and crops,... more

When the U.S. government and state of Florida unveiled a new plan to save the Everglades in 2000, the sprawling... more

At the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife preserve in central Kenya, lions and cheetahs mingle with zebras and elephants across... more

Scientists know that Black people are at a greater risk for health problems like heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease... more

Honeyguides are wild birds that team up with humans and then lead them to honey. Researchers recently found that the... more

At least one in four women — and a much smaller proportion of men — experiences intimate partner violence in... more

Winter is upon us – and with the holiday travel and time spent indoors comes a triple threat of respiratory... more

Time is a concept so central to our daily lives. Yet, the closer scientists look at it, the more it... more

If you work at home or in an office, you might spend a lot of your day sitting down and... more

Since they were discovered in 2019, strange, glowing circles of light in space have mystified researchers. Now called odd radio... more

Human beings are hardwired for social connection – so much so that we think of even the most basic objects... more

A winter storm brought heavy rain and snow to parts of the East Coast this weekend, which got us thinking... more

The winter is usually when insects die or go into a state of paused development, but for tiny specks on... more

In celebration of our 1000th episode, we're wrapping our heads around big numbers. Educational neuroscientist Elizabeth Toomarian talks about why... more

Ever gotten a scarlet, hot face after drinking? Or know someone who has? Many people felt it as they ring... more

2023 was filled with scientific innovation, exploration and new discoveries. A few of the biggest threads we saw unraveling this... more

As 2023 comes to a close, Short Wave teamed up with our friends at All Things Considered to round up... more

Are people ever satisfied? Two social psychologists, Ethan Ludwin-Peery and Adam Mastroianni, fell down a research rabbit hole accidentally answering... more

Would you survive as a doctor in The Sims 4? What's an appropriate amount of free food to take from... more

LED light bulbs are the future. They're better for the environment and the pocket book. But for some people, certain... more

Millions of people in the U.S. are bird watchers. But a couple of years ago a satirical conspiracy theory gained... more

For the first time in its history, the United Nations climate conference concluded with a call to transition away from... more

Does thinking about the trajectory of the climate make you have a panic spiral? If so, we have the perfect... more

A team of conservation biologists from Italy recently found that current emoji options are sorely lacking when it comes to... more

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used throughout the world to predict the future. Banks use it to predict whether customers... more

Malls are designed to overwhelm our brains. Add the stress of holiday shopping, and a quick trip to pick up... more

Glaciers like the ones in Greenland are melting due to climate change, causing global sea levels to rise. That we... more

The U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. And for a lot of people, the feeling is even... more

Soon after the sun sets on winter nights, if you live in the northern hemisphere you can look into the... more

It's easy to overlook the soil beneath our feet, or to think of it as just dirt to be cleaned... more

Sleep. It's an essential biological function that has long intrigued scientists. Researchers have studied everything from mice to fruit flies... more

In which we meet the pioneers of one of the most exciting — and controversial — fields of biomedical research:... more

As kids, some of us dream of multiple careers: being an astronaut AND the next president. Or digging up dinosaurs... more

Walking into Karen Chin's office at the University of Colorado, Boulder, one of the first things you might notice is... more

Turkey is the usual centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner, but it's all too easy to end up with a dry,... more

Every five years, the United States government releases the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive analysis of how climate change is... more

How much salt is too much salt? Most likely, the amount you're consuming. A new study published this week in... more

Saturday, the entire coastal town of Grindavik, Iceland was evacuated. That's because over the weekend, the country experienced nearly 2,000... more

In the 18th century the world was focused on Venus. Expeditions were launched in pursuit of exact measurements of Venus... more

AI is popping up everywhere nowadays. From medicine to science to the Hollywood strikes. Today, with computer scientist and AI... more

If you've ever looked up at the clouds and wondered where they came from, you're not alone. Atmospheric researcher Lubna... more

Scientists have mapped less than 25% of the world's seafloor. Experts say that getting that number up to 100% would... more

What your parents didn't tell you about pulling an all-nighter? It just might ease depression for several days. At least,... more

Every year, the USDA drops millions of oral rabies vaccines across fourteen states, mostly along the eastern seaboard. In urban... more

Antibiotics have changed the world. They've made it possible to treat diseases that used to mean anything from discomfort to... more

The human brain has more than 170 billion cells. A newly published atlas offers the most detailed maps yet... more

Some people keep dogs in their backyards. In the Florida Keys, some residents have deer the size of a golden... more

As a kid, host Aaron Scott would dress up for Halloween as an older version of himself — complete with... more

We're about to hit peak Orionid meteor shower! According to NASA, it's one of the most beautiful showers of the... more

That spider you squished? It could have been used for science! Today, we're bringing you Halloween a little early –... more

Artificial intelligence can code computer programs, draw pictures and even take notes for doctors. Now, researchers are excited about the... more

Microbiologist Monsi Roman joined NASA in 1989 to help design the International Space Station. As the chief microbiologist for life... more

Coral reefs in Florida have lost an estimated 90% of their corals in the last 40 years. And this summer,... more

Ever read those Choose Your Own Adventure books of the '80s and '90s? As a kid, mathematician Pamela Harris was... more

Being inside, hunching in front of a computer screen for hours at a time – these things take a toll... more

Y'all, it's the most wonderful time of the year: Fat Bear Week! Brown bears in Katmai National Park and... more

Here on Short Wave, we're getting into the Halloween spirit a little early with a look at the world's oldest... more

A new robot is designed to sink sargassum before the stinky seaweed comes ashore. Blooms of sargassum, a leafy brown... more

A tiny worm that regenerates entire organs. A South American snail that can regrow its eyes. A killifish that suspends... more

In 2016, NASA launched a spacecraft to do something rarely attempted before: Collect space rocks from a potentially dangerous asteroid.... more

Ever had an itch you can't scratch? It can be maddening. And even though itch has a purpose — it's... more

Today on the show, All Things Considered co-host Mary Louise Kelly joins Regina G. Barber and Maria Godoy for our... more

The last several decades have taken a toll on the oceans: Some fish populations are collapsing, plastic is an increasing... more

We're entering a new era of astrophysics. The James Webb Space Telescope is helping scientists test existing ideas and models... more

This week, the Food and Drug Administration approved new COVID vaccines this week. It comes at a time when COVID... more

40 million miles of road unite us. They also cause mass destruction for many species. Today, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb... more

More than 5,000 square miles of central California coast could soon become the newest national marine sanctuary in the United... more

Today on the show, All Things Considered co-host Ari Shapiro joins Aaron Scott and Regina G. Barber for our science... more

Have frequent, burning pee? Cramping or the urge to pee even though you just went? If you haven't yet, you... more

This year, the hottest July ever was recorded — and parts of the country were hit with heat waves that... more

Food allergies have risen in the United States over the last few decades. Research suggests that 40 years ago the... more

Smallpox is a deadly virus. At one point, it killed almost 1 in 3 people who had it. Almost 300... more

Workers in Japan started releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on... more

A journey through some of the latest science stories catching our eyes. This time, we consider the Russian and Indian... more

One name has been on millions of minds — and all over the news — in the past week: Hilary.It's... more

It's no secret that our electric grid is a flaming hot mess — and in order to reduce emissions, the... more

Today we enter into the plot of a summer blockbuster adventure movie. Regina talks to NPR reporter Emily Olson about... more

Kids ask, "Why?" all the time. Why does 1+1=2? Why do we memorize multiplication tables? Many of us eventually stop... more

There's the birds and the bees. And then there's what happens after. The process that leads to the beginning of... more

All Things Considered host Juana Summers joins Regina G. Barber and Berly McCoy to nerd-out on some of the latest... more

How do we really get happier? In a new review in the journal Nature Human Behavior, researchers Elizabeth Dunn and... more

The ability to create wrought iron cheaply has been called one of the most significant innovations in the British Industrial... more

Ever felt like you were watching yourself and the rest of the world from outside of your body? Or floating... more

For decades, humans have harvested the blood of horseshoe crabs, which is used to test whether many of our vaccines... more

Would you survive as a doctor in The Sims 4? What's the appropriate amount of free food to take from... more

In this special episode, we hear from the high school grand prize winner of NPR's Student Podcast Challenge: Georgianna McKenny.... more

For most infants, introducing peanuts early can help prevent allergies later on — but a new study reveals most caregivers... more

In which we metaphorically enter the UCLA Language Acquisistion Lab's recording castle, guided by linguistics researcher Dr. Megha Sundara. NPR... more

Scorpions: They're found pretty much everywhere, and new species are being identified all the time. Arachnologist Lauren Esposito says there's... more

Christopher Nolan's new film 'Oppenheimer' chronicles the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the first director of Los Alamos... more

For people with endometriosis—a mysterious disease where endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus—medical visits can be especially frustrating. It... more

Trash from humans is constantly spilling into the ocean — so much so that there are five gigantic garbage patches... more

Science in the headlines: An amazingly preserved sea squirt fossil that could tell us something about human evolution, a new... more

Canada is having its worst fire season in modern history. The fires have burnt more than 20 million acres, casting... more

In the Port of Baltimore, a ship is docked that hasn't transported passengers for more than 50 years. It's the... more

20 years ago, the cult classic movie 'The Core' was released in theaters. From the start, it's clear that science... more

We hope you had a restful holiday! Maybe even got outside for some relaxing fresh air. If so, you might've... more

Chefs will tell you, cooking is not just an art — it's a science. And the spirit of summer barbecues,... more

New gravitational waves, why orcas might be attacking boats and a new robot prototype inspired by animals: it's all in... more

Salomé Buglass discovered an unexpected kelp forest while studying underwater mountains in the Galapagos. Kelp—a type of seaweed—usually grows in... more

Sunscreen: we should all be using it, but we might not all be using it the right way. In fact,... more

For generations, scientists have leaned on seven key species, including rats and mice, for research. They're called model organisms and... more

In pockets across the U.S., communities are struggling with polluted air — often in neighborhoods where working class people and... more

Season 2 of the critically acclaimed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premiered June 15 (streaming on Paramount+). So today, Short... more

All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro returns to nerd-our with Short Wave hosts Emily Kwong and Regina G. Barber on... more

With much of California's massive snowpack yet to melt, downstream communities remain on high alert for flooding. Hundreds of homes... more

For many scientists, science isn't something they check in and out of — it permeates their whole lives. That's true... more

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing poor air quality in parts of the U.S. This smoke can have dangerous health... more

Teppei Katori loves two things: particle physics and music. Naturally, he combined the two. Today on Short Wave, Teppei talks... more

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for many millions of years, but only after a mass extinction took out most of their... more

This week's science news roundup reunites All Things Considered host Ailsa Chang with Short Wave hosts Emily Kwong and Regina... more

Ice in Antarctica is melting really quickly because of climate change. That's driving sea level rise around the world, and... more

Mora Leeb was 9 months old when surgeons removed half her brain. Now 15, she plays soccer and tells jokes.... more

If you ask a physicist or cosmologist about the beginnings of the universe, they'll probably point you to some math... more

In February 2021, pandemic restrictions were just starting to ease in Hawaii, and Leila Mirhaydari was finally able to see... more

Kwasi Wrensford studies two related species: the Alpine chipmunk and the Lodgepole chipmunk. The two have very different ways of... more

This week for our science news roundup, superstar host of All Things Considered Ari Shapiro joins Short Wave hosts Emily... more

Race is a social construct — so why are DNA test kits like the ones from 23andMe coded like they... more

The COVID-19 public health emergency has ended, but millions across the globe continue to deal with Long COVID. Researchers are... more

There's a lot for scientists to learn about the origins of humans' musical abilities. In the last few years, though,... more

This week, the American Psychological Association issued its first-of-kind guidelines for parents to increase protection for children online. It comes... more

Today on the show, we meet a prosthetic designer and a neuroscientist fascinated with understanding how the brain and body... more

Another week comes by, and luckily so does our roundup of science news. This time, we've got some questions about... more

A doctor's job is to help patients. With that help, often comes lots and lots of paperwork. That's where some... more

Today on the show, next-generation energy innovators Bill David and Serena Cussen challenged us to think about the future of... more

California's wet winter has devastated many local communities. It has also benefited some of the state's endangered ecosystems. Those benefits... more

In the toxic waters of Sulphur Cave in Steamboat Springs, Colo. live blood-red worm blobs that have attracted international scientific... more

It's our latest roundup of science news! This time, with Ailsa Chang of NPR's All Things Considered, who joins us... more

In the Arctic Ocean, sea ice is shrinking as the climate heats up. In the Western U.S., wildfires are getting... more

Melting glaciers are leaving behind large, unstable lakes that can cause dangerous flash floods. Millions of people downstream are threatened.... more

Endangered North Atlantic right whales are disappearing from their native waters, a serious danger for a species with only 340... more

This week, New York City crowned Kathleen Corradi its first rat czar. The new position is part of a multipronged... more

When Tove Danovich decided to dabble in backyard chicken keeping, she embraced a tried and true journalistic practice —... more